Chapter 38 – Neve
Chapter 38
NEVE
A s we walked the hallways of the hidden palace, I kept my gaze on Vale while he took in everything around him with wide eyes.
“There is so much history back here,” he murmured when he caught me staring.
“I guess your father did away with everything else relating to the Falks?”
“He burned everything he could. Some of it in a castle fire. Some in a bonfire. Or that was what I was told.”
We followed Emilia into the same wing in which Queen Revna and King Harald—my parents—had lived and Emilia stopped next to a room that was only one away from Queen Revna’s room.
“The old queen’s healing workshop.” Emilia waved us inside. “She set it up for storing potions, so I keep the ones I’ve stolen in here.”
“Stolen!” Vale huffed as I escorted him inside and over to a large, padded table in the center of the room, a spot meant for the sick or injured to lie down. “How do you manage stealing from the healers’ sanctuary?”
“Most fae don’t notice humans, do they?” Emilia arched an eyebrow and when Vale didn’t comment, she continued. “We’re deemed beneath them and therefore your king doesn’t care to watch us. I slip a potion from the healers’ sanctuary in my pocket here and there. A few herbs another time. After many turns of doing so, I have a storehouse.”
She really did. Though the room was far smaller than the healers’ sanctuary, or even Vale’s suite, the tall shelves along each wall appeared well-stocked with herbs, flasks of liquids, and labeled tins.
I didn’t worry about closing the wound. I’d never have sewn up skin before, but the wound wasn’t too deep, and I knew how to use a needle and thread. I might not be as skilled as a healer would manage, but I’d make sure the wound was sealed. Vale’s healing abilities would do the rest.
He would live, of that I was sure, but I needed him to be strong in a very short amount of time. Strong enough to run through Avaldenn and find safety.
“We need a potion to amplify a fae’s accelerated healing, if such a thing exists, one for head injuries and staving off infection,” I said to Emilia, who swung into action.
“Here.” She plucked down three bottles from a shelf. “I’ll set out the doses too.”
“How did you learn the correct doses?” I didn’t see instructions on the bottles and while a human could easily steal potions, learning to use them was another matter .
Emilia’s cheeks pinked. “Queen Revna taught me.”
“So you’re still a Falk loyalist?” Vale accused from where he perched on the table.
“Until I die.”
“Why? If they kept you as a slave, why continue to be so loyal?” The words tripped off his tongue. His family kept slaves, and Vale knew they likely wouldn’t be loyal of their own accord.
“I wasn’t a slave to the Falks. I worked for Queen Revna as a servant.” Emilia’s chin rose, but even as her defiance bloomed, she continued to measure doses for Vale. “She taught me things regarding healing. It has come in handy when helping the other slaves.”
Vale looked stunned speechless, and I patted him on the back. “Take the potions, and I’ll clean your wound.”
Emilia finished measuring, and Vale did as I said.
“Arms out,” I instructed.
Vale moved his arms as much as he could and, slowly, I took off the shirt he’d been wearing when he passed out from his night of drinking. Blood had already crusted to his skin, but as I’d suspected, the slice across his chest wasn’t too deep or wide, thank the stars.
“Is there a numbing solution? Or potion? Or whatever?” I asked Emilia.
She nodded and pulled a balm from another shelf. “Rub it around the injury.”
“I should clean it first.”
Emilia beamed. “A natural, like?—”
“A cloth damp with vinegar?”
In no way did I wish for Vale to discover who I was now. Thankfully, he hadn’t been paying close attention to the exchange. The prince was too preoccupied with the room, which aside from holding potions, herbs, and the like, also showed off images of the queen and her family.
One was a relaxed family portrait. In it, the twin girls—my sister and me—were sitting on our mother’s lap. We were young, likely not even one turn, but now that I knew who was whom, I recognized my eyes in the portrait.
Did Vale?
I side-eyed him, but he gave away no recognition.
Finally, he turned to me as Emilia handed over a wet, sour-smelling cloth. Anticipating what I’d need next, she also set down a small kit containing a needle and thick thread.
“I can’t believe this is all back here,” Vale murmured. “I’ve wanted to see it for so long and here I am.”
“Thank the stars for it.” He winced as I started dabbing the injury. “Sorry. I’ll be as gentle as possible.”
“Do what you must. I can handle the pain.”
From then on, I worked in silence, cleaning the wound and trying not to notice that this was the closest we’d been since I learned about my ancestry.
Once the blood was gone and the wound was clearly visible, I sighed.
“You lucked out.” I palmed the numbing balm and began rubbing it on his skin. “That blade could have hit so many things if he’d run you through with it.”
“Assassins know how to strike to disable rather than kill. For all the vampire’s bluster, he inflicted this wound on purpose. ”
Killing a born prince, while poetic justice, perhaps, would invite war. At least if I died, the Blood Court could say that it was the dead gods’ vengeance or something of the sort, but Vale was innocent and royal by blood. We were not the same.
Except we actually were. I was just the only one of us who knew just how similar we were.
“How long does it take for the balm to work, Emilia?” I asked. She’d been sitting by, waiting to be of help.
“Only a few minutes.”
Vale blinked and rubbed his head.
“How’s your head?” I asked, concerned for what I could not see. The chest wound, while messy, was far less mysterious.
“I think I’ll be fine,” Vale said. “My temple throbs, but part of that could be from the ale. I had too much last night.”
I held back my ‘you don’t say?’ comment. Vale might not even remember Sian, who’d been acting as an additional guard down the hallway until Vale returned. His friend had needed to help the prince into the room. No use in making him feel bad that if he’d been clearheaded, he could have dealt with the vampire more effectively.
“Emilia, can you get him water and food?” Then, noting his clothing and my own nightdress, I added, “we’ll need new clothes and cloaks too. Can you find some?”
We only had to go to Luccan Riis’s place, but that was far enough for a vampire to recognize us. Cloaks weren’t just ways to stay warm but excellent disguises.
“I’ll take care of everything,” Emilia assured me. “The balm should be working well by now. The needle and thread have a spell on them to keep them clean, so you needn’t worry about those.” My heart gave a stutter. I hadn’t even considered how the tools might be different.
“You can do it. I’m sure of it.” Emilia gave me an encouraging smile and left the room.
“Are you ready?” I picked up the needle and thread Emilia had set out for me. The thread was smoother to the touch. The needle curved at the end too. Though it seemed preposterous, I hoped that some of my mother’s healing gift passed down to me and I’d excel at suturing. “Because this might hurt,” I said as I finished threading the needle. “I’m sorry if it does.”
“I can handle it.”
“I’ve never sewn up skin.”
“I have, but I can’t do it on my own. Not with the angle of this wound, anyway.” Vale nodded down, and I tried to envision him awkwardly sewing up his own upper chest. Yes, that would certainly be a sight. “One stitch at a time, Neve. Go as slow as you need. We’re safe.”
I nodded at his assurance and went to work, pulling together the skin at the end of the wound and applying one stitch at a time, like Vale had said, and I’d seen Yvette do once to a slave who tripped and cut open their leg. The materials we had differed. Tonight, I had proper healing supplies, while Yvette had needed to boil normal thread and the needle, but the idea was similar. One step at a time, one stitch.
At times, I needed Vale to pull his skin closer together, which he did without complaint. I worked tirelessly, trying not to notice how the lines of the tattoos on his chest were not quite straight anymore. How I wasn’t stitching perfectly. Instead, I focused on Vale, making sure I wasn’t hurting him. Had I not been paying attention to the times that his breathing deepened, I would have thought that he was unaffected.
“ Tell me if it hurts,” I insisted. “I can pause and give you a moment.”
“It’s not that,” Vale said. “I can feel your magic.”
I stopped stitching. “Excuse me?”
“With each touch, I can feel your magic. It’s faint, but there. Do you sense it loosening?”
The truth was that since my hand froze, I had felt off, though I put that down to everything that had happened. When Vale mentioned my magic loosening, though, it made more sense.
Beneath my skin, something bubbled softly. If I didn’t pay attention, I could ignore it, and as I’d been paying attention to not harming Vale, he’d sensed it more than me. It showed how in tune with me he was, and that made my stomach sink.
“I didn’t feel it until tonight,” I replied, focusing on his chest and not his eyes, searching for something in me that I couldn’t give him.
“It’s there,” he assured me. “Soon it will be free. I like how it feels—familiar.”
Thankfully, at that moment, Emilia returned with food, bread, and two cold legs of chicken, before leaving again to retrieve clothing. When she got back the second time with an armful of garments, I was halfway done with the wound. The human came over and examined my work.
“You’re doing well. Only a couple of those stitches are sloppy.”
My face fell.
“Don’t speak to her like that.” Vale glowered at the human before meeting my eyes. “They’ll hold.”
Unlike with garments, I’d been going for functionality, not beauty. Though it felt vain, to be told my work was ugly still struck me, but Vale’s assurances helped.
“I didn’t mean it to be a criticism. Most people take many moons to stitch up a wound so well.” Emilia held up a wrinkled hand, and for the first time, I noticed she trembled, ever so slightly. “I would have offered, but I’m old and my hands aren’t as steady as they once were.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “As long as it closes his wound and doesn’t become infected, I’ll consider this a triumph.”
“And how’s your head, my prince?” Emilia asked.
“Save for the ache, which I’m still blaming on the ale, I feel normal.” Vale pressed his hand against his temple, which was red but not swollen. A good sign.
“The potions are working.” Emilia turned to where she’d set down the plate of food. “Eat while she finishes. If I need to get more, I will.”
He took the plate and did as the slave requested, while Emilia helped me hold the sides of the wound closed and gave occasional pointers.
I wasn’t sure how long it took for me to sew Vale up, but when I finished, I breathed a sigh of relief. “Try for no sudden movements. ”
“Until we run,” Vale said.
“I guess so. That’s still the plan?”
The truth was that we had the option to wait out the night back here. No one would find us, and, for as long as we needed, Emilia would bring food. Vale would be able to heal fully. We could wait until Duran had the Liar’s Salvation ready. Perhaps even send Emilia to get it.
“I think it would be best for you to leave Avaldenn,” Vale said. “Once you’re safe, I can send a message to the castle for them to hunt down the vampires, but I have little hope of them being found.”
“They’re that good?”
“The Red Assassins are among the best of their trade in Isila.” Vale let loose an exhale. “With their stealth, great speed, and strength, vampires are the perfect assassins.”
I swallowed. “I heard there are more.”
“I think you should go too, Princess Neve,” Emilia said softly, which earned her a glare from Vale.
“And how exactly is it that you two know one another?” he asked.
Despite Emilia saving us and supplying everything I needed to help Vale, he didn’t trust her. I supposed the fact that she could access this part of the castle was enough for him to remain suspicious.
“I met her back here after Rhistel came looking for me in the suite,” I lied, not wanting him to put the pieces together that Emilia might be related to the change in my attitude toward him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.
Internally, I cringed. I should have seen that one coming. I’d told him about the diary, about how the queen suspected his mother and Lord Riis of being in a relationship—why would I leave Emilia out?
“I asked her not to,” Emilia piped up. “You’ll understand that it doesn’t look good for a slave to have access to this part of the palace, does it, my prince?” She eyed him. “Even if I’ve done nothing but serve House Aaberg for turns, it casts suspicion on me even if I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Except be faithful to the Cruel King,” Vale spat back.
I swallowed dryly. Thank the stars I hadn’t told him about my ancestry.
As if she intuited my thoughts, Emilia cast a sidelong glance at me. “The Falk family was good to me, and despite what others say, King Harald was not all bad.”
Grateful for her, I changed the topic. “Emilia, you wouldn’t have non-healing potions back here, would you?”
“Some. What are you looking for?”
“Liar’s Salvation.”
Emilia blinked. “I’m human, as are most of those whom I treat. We don’t need a potion to lie. And even if it would still be good, Queen Revna would never keep such a potion on hand. It’s illegal.”
“I know.” I also knew that once my magic appeared, it might give away my secret. Even if I was out of Avaldenn, I could be in danger. It all depended on how Vale took the news.
“I wish we could wait to leave until we meet your friend and get the Liar’s Salvation,” I spoke cryptically to Vale. Emilia might do anything to help me, but that didn’t mean she would protect Duran. I hated having to be so careful around both of them.
“It’s not worth it.” Vale slipped off the table. “I can have Luccan pass a note to Filip, and he’ll get the potion tomorrow. They’ll send it on to us. I promise they’re trustworthy.”
Emilia snorted, which earned her a glare from Vale. I held up my hands, not wanting to deal with their animosity when their goals were the same—to keep me safe.
“Vale, if you can run, I think we’d better get moving.”
“I’m ready,” he said. “The clothing?”
Emilia nodded to the pile, which she’d set on a smaller table that had likely once been littered with healing tools. “Choose what fits.”
We went to the table, and the moment Vale picked up the first shirt, he stiffened.
“What is this ?”
He needn’t ask. While the shirt was midnight black, the amethyst cuffs embroidered with silver hawks made it all too obvious that the clothing was from House Falk.
“What else did you expect her to find back here?” I whispered.
“King Harald wasn’t quite as big and muscular as you,” Emilia added. “But that’s one of his larger tunics. I hope it works for you, my prince.”
Vale’s cheeks reddened.
“Put it on,” I hissed. “You’ll be wearing a cloak over the tunic, anyway.”
He grunted but complied, tossing on the tunic and then the plain black cloak Emilia had found for him. Once Vale was taken care of, I turned to the pile of clothing Emilia had gotten me. She’d chosen pants rather than dresses. To the touch, the material was very fine—something only nobility used.
“Queen Revna and King Harald hunted together often when they visited House Skau’s castle, so she had excellent outdoor wear. You’re the same size as her.” Emilia came up beside me and pulled a sweater out. “This will be warm too.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, fingering the thick sweater and pants my mother used to wear. I pulled the trousers on beneath my nightdress and turned to face the wall when I shimmied the dress over my head and slipped the sweater on. It was indeed warm. Quite soft too. I ran a hand over the material of such good quality that it looked as good as new, though no one had worn it in decades.
We gathered our weapons and put on our thick cloaks. I eyed Vale. “Are you sure you’re fine to go?”
“Once we’re out of the palace grounds, we’re flying,” Vale replied, his wings lifting from their compressed position.
“Agreed.” Vampires were the fastest creatures in Isila, but they didn’t have wings. “Emilia? Can you show us the best way out of here?” I only remembered how to get back to Vale’s suite, which would be the opposite of useful.
“Where would be best to exit?” Emilia asked.
“The eastern side of the palace,” Vale answered.
She let out a hum and then nodded. “There is a way that will lead you to the outside. ”
“After you, then.” I gestured to the door, and we followed her into the hallway.
Emilia turned left, and despite myself, I glanced right—at my parents’ bedrooms. Both doors were ajar, probably from Emilia rummaging through their things.
“Neve?” Vale asked. While I’d stopped, he and Emilia had kept walking and were now waiting for me. Vale with confusion in his features, Emilia with a sad understanding. “Is something wrong?”
“I . . .” I trailed off, unsure how to answer his question, all the while the doors pulled at me.
The castle—maybe my parents even—had wanted me to find this place, to come back here, and now I was leaving. Running. Hiding. I’d yearned for my family, but I was abandoning what little I had left of them.
“One minute.” I dashed for my mother’s suite.
Vale swore, and his heavy footsteps told me he followed me into the queen’s suite before pausing on the threshold of her bedroom.
I, however, approached the desk and pulled open the drawer. The diary was there. I shoved it in my cloak pocket. Should I never return, it would be my keepsake.
I turned to Vale. “We might need coin too. Do you have any on your person?”
He shook his head. “There might be a coinary, though. Depending on where the gateway goes.”
“I have a better idea.” Though I’d once thought to use it as currency, I hadn’t thought to grab the phoenix opal when the vampires attacked. Thankfully, that would not be an issue. There were many jewels back here.
I left the bedroom and entered Queen Revna’s vast closet, where I pawed through my mother’s jewelry. Knowing that it was hers, that it might have been mine one day, and that each piece was a connection to my past and that I might have to sell it hurt, but I shoved down my emotions. All the while, Vale followed, his movements still a touch clumsy from the ale in his blood, a stunned expression on his face. Once I’d filled my pockets with rings, necklaces, bracelets, and brooches that would fetch hundreds, if not thousands, of gold bears, I was ready.
“Let’s go.”
Vale nodded, and we left the queen’s suite to find Emilia in the hallway, ready and waiting. But I stopped again.
King Harald, my father, had slept across the hall from my mother. Despite his horrible reputation, he was blood. I wanted something from him too.
I entered the old king’s rooms and Vale gave a huff. “Neve! We have to hurry! The longer we take, the better prepared the vampires will be in the city to hunt anyone who looks suspicious.”
“I’ll be fast!” I said, sure of what I wanted as I rushed to the sword case and smashed the glass.
“What in all the nine kingdoms?” Vale hollered, but by the time he raced into the room to learn what I’d done, I’d already wrenched the sword from its case, placed it in the sheath, and slung the sword strap over my shoulder.
“ Now , I’m ready.”